Walking along with Master Course students at Tema Genus

When I meet Stefania, Hanna and Richard during our lunch break to follow them to the photographer they are laughing and chatting and they are a bit stressed. This is the last hours of their stay at the face-to-face meeting on campus for the Master Course Teaching Intersectional Gender, Sexuality, Ethnicity and Equality which is an online 30 credits course with participants from 8 countries. It is almost -10 degree Celsius this day and we are discussing the relations between academia and activism and how to connect knowledge production and critical analyses of knowledge production with action, i.e. how to be agents for change. During this short period of time as we chat the brainstorm results in ideas about a co-creating moviemaking project, open seminars and workshops. There is no doubt that they appreciate the course and are very engaged as we discusses transnationality and gender quality and the importance of problematize imaginaries as for example Sweden as a very equal nation. Some quotes from the interviews Stefania, Hanna and Richard with them earlier echoes in my head as I walk alongside the Master Course students:

“It opened a new universe for me” (Stefania, Milan, Italy)

“Inspiration is provided by the teachers” (Hanna, Linköping, Sweden)

“It offers broad perspectives and enables me to see connections” (Richard, Chang Chun, China and Linköping, Sweden)

Within a few hours Stefania, Richard and Hanna will leave campus for this time. Fortunately they will soon see each other in the pedagogical room on line, and perhaps even next semester on the Master Programme at Tema Genus. 

Next semester, August 20, a brand new Master Programme Gender Studies – Intersectonality and Change (60/120 credits) is starting at Tema Genus, Linköping University, focusing on knowledge of theories and methodologies in gender studies to enable students to develop academic skills to analyse and to intervene innovatively and professionally in gendered and intersectional processes of transformation in society. The programme is designed for both Swedish and international students with a bachelor’s degree in Humanities or Social Sciences. Students attending the programme will have many different disciplinary, interdisciplinary and/or professional backgrounds.

Don’t forget to apply before May 15!

Welcome to Tema Genus, an international and excellent milieu!

For more information: www.liu.se/gender-studies

Text: Desireé Ljungcrantz

Photo: Peter Modin